 | Obstacles | |
| Upper Trigram: | K'an, the Abyss, Water, Danger | |
| Lower Trigram: | Ken, Inaction, a Mountain | |
| Governing Ruler: | Nine in the fifth place | |
The Image
Rain on the mountain: the image of Chien. The superior man, in accordance with this, turns around and examines himself, and cultivates his virtue.
Miscellaneous Signs
Hard toil and danger have in Chien their home.
The Judgement
In the state indicated by Chien advantage will be found in the south-west, and the contrary in the north-east. It will be advantageous also, to meet with the great man. In these circumstances, with firmness and correctness, there will be good fortune.
Commentary
Chien denotes difficulty. There is the trigram for danger in front. When one, seeing the peril, can arrest his steps in accordance with the significance of the inner trigram, is he not wise? The language of Chien, that 'advantage will be found in the south-west', refers to the strong fifth line, advanced and in the central place. That 'there will be no advantage in the north-east', intimates that the way (of the second line) leads to exhaustion. That 'it will be advantageous to see the great man', intimates that advance will lead to achievement. That the places of the different lines after the first are those appopriate to them, indicates the firm correctness and good fortune with which the regions of the kingdom are brought to their normal state. Great indeed is the work to be done in the time of Chien!
Chien denotes difficulty. There is the trigram for danger in front. When one, seeing the peril, can arrest his steps in accordance with the significance of the inner trigram, is he not wise? The language of Chien, that 'advantage will be found in the south-west', refers to the strong fifth line, advanced and in the central place. That 'there will be no advantage in the north-east', intimates that the way (of the second line) leads to exhaustion. That 'it will be advantageous to see the great man', intimates that advance will lead to achievement. That the places of the different lines after the first are those appopriate to them, indicates the firm correctness and good fortune with which the regions of the kingdom are brought to their normal state. Great indeed is the work to be done in the time of Chien!
The Lines and commentaries
Bottom six
Advance on the part of this line's subject will lead to greater difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise.
'Advancing will conduct to greater difficulties, while remaining stationary will afford ground for praise': the proper course is to wait.
Six in the second placeShowing its subject as the minister of the king, struggling with difficulty on difficulty, and not with a view to his own advantage.
'The minister of the king struggles with difficulty on difficulty'; but in the end no blame will be attached to him.
Nine in the third placeShowing its subject advancing, but only to greater difficulties. He remains stationary, then returns to his former associates.
'He advances, but only to greater difficulty. He remains stationary, and returns to his former associates': they, represented in the inner trigram, rejoice in him.
Six in the fourth placeShowing its subject advancing, but only to greater difficulties. He remains stationary, and unites with the subject of the line above.
'To advance will only be to encounter greater difficulties; he remains stationary, and unites with the subject of the line above': who is in his proper place, and has the solidity due to him in that position.
Nine in the fifth placeShowing its subject struggling with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming to help him.
'He struggles with the greatest difficulties, while friends are coming to help him': he is in the central position, and possesses the requisite virtue.
Top-most sixShowing its subject going forward, only to increase the difficulties, while his remaining stationary will be productive of great merit. There will be good fortune, and it will be advantageous to meet with the great man.
To advance will only increase the difficulties, while remaining stationary will be productive of great merit': his aim is to assist the subject of the central line.
'It will be advantageous to see the great man': by his course he follows that noble lord of the hexagram.
'It will be advantageous to see the great man': by his course he follows that noble lord of the hexagram.
 1. Ch'ien Creative Principle |  2. K'un Passive Principle |  3. Chun Initial Difficulties |  4. Meng Youthful Inexperience |  5. Hsü Delay |  6. Sung Conflict |  7. Shih The Army |  8. Pi Seeking Unity |  9. Hsiao Ch'u Minor Restraint |  10. Lü Treading carefully |  11. T'ai Peace |  12. P'i Stagnation |  13. T'ung Jen Companionship |  14. Ta Yu Great Possessions |  15. Ch'ien Modesty |  16. Yü Enthusiasm |  17. Sui Allegiance |  18. Ku Arresting Decay |  19. Lin Approaching |  20. Kuan Contemplation |  21. Shih Ho Biting through |  22. Pi Grace |  23. Po Disintegration |  24. Fu The Turning Point |  25. Wu Wang Innocence |  26. Ta Ch'u Restraining Force |  27. I Nourishment |  28. Ta Kuo Excess |  29. K'an The Abyss |  30. Li Clinging Brightness |  31. Hsieh Influence |  32. Heng Endurance |  33. Tun Withdrawal |  34. Ta Chuang Strength of Greatness |  35. Chin Progress |  36. Ming I Sinking Light |  37. Chia Jen The Family |  38. K'uei Opposition | 39. Chien Obstacles |  40. Hsieh Deliverance |  41. Sun Decrease |  42. I Increase |  43. Kuai Resolution |  44. Kou Coming on |  45. Ts'ui Congregation |  46. Sheng Moving upward |  47. K'un Exhaustion |  48. Ching The Well |  49. Ko Revolution |  50. Ting The Cauldron |  51. Chen Thunderclap |  52. Ken Inaction |  53. Chien Gradual Progress |  54. Kuei Mei Marriageable Maiden |  55. Feng Abundance |  56. Lü The Wanderer |  57. Sun Gentle Penetration |  58. Tui Joy |  59. Huan Dispersal |  60. Chien Restraint |  61. Cung Fu Inner Truth |  62. Hsiao Kuo Small Excess |  63. Chi Chi Completion and After |  64. Wei Chi Before Completion |